Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/06/2007

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environmental issues. NTL Inc. has since reviewed the site and detennined there are no "recognized environmental" conditions on the site. Included in the Council packet is the proposed Stipulation of Final Settlement. This stipulation allows the owner until January 31, 2008 to move. This is somewhat of a seasonal business and the owner has indicated they are fInished with their business sometime in September or early October. The time that the owner moves is not real signifIcant at tlus point in time, but to be fair to the City and the property owner the move should be done prior to next season. Mr. Goodrich indicated tllls property owner has the same attorney as Mr. Brown, a very pronllnent eminent domain attorney in Mimleapolis. The relocation expenses on tms property have not been resolved; that will be ongoing. Councilmember Look stated tms is a small business man that after being treated in the fasluon which the City has treated him, he will not relocate in the City of Ramsey. He fInds that to be a travesty. They are kicking their own businesses out ofthe City because they have a small brown building that may not be the most pleasant looking. It is at the gateway coming into Ramsey and they want a better looking building. Councilmember Look stated he is frustrated. He is pleased that the City is rum1ing out of time with their eminent domain proceedings. He knows Mr. DeCook, and he is a nice person that has been trying to operate a business and support his family. The Econonllc Development Authority (EDA) started the prqcess on this. He requested that the councilmembers that serve on the EDA conunent as to why they feel tllls is necessary. Councilmember Dehen stated he echoes Councilmember Look's comments. He is not a believer in the old eminent domain methods; he tlunks the City should be working with businesses to keep them here. However, he believes Mr. DeCook is agreeable now, since he is going to sign an agreement. He understands the tmnking iliat they should not try to hammer these people, but if they do ultimately come to an agreement where they are happy he is fIne with that. He would like to see a policy where they work with businesses to keep them in the City. It is every councilmember's goal to keep business in the City, and he does not like the fact that they are not working with the businesses in some capacity to keep tllem in the City. He does not like how this was started, but he is in agreement wiili tms because Mr. DeCook is signing the agreement and is not here voicing his opposition to this. Councilmember Look stated Mr. DeCook wants to wash ms hands of tms. He has been dealing with it for tvvo years and is done with the City of Ramsey. He stated he tlllnks the City is sending the wrong message. Council!l1ember Elvig stated the two new councilmembers may not be aware of the eminent domain that has occurred in the City and their efforts to clean the City up. Many of these owners have relocated in the City because they have made it benefIcial to them. Dave Perkins was near tms space with the same type of situation, he relocated and expanded Ius business and has a wonderful situation. He is sorry the process has not worked well with tllls property. The Council just fInished discussing the abatement process where the City is tired of properties that need to be cleaned up. They have a situation with industrial parks they are trying to make look more attractive, and with properties that are taking down the value of neighboring properties. Some ofthese properties can be massed together into larger, more conducive projects. Councilmember Stronunen stated in addition, an important issue to stress is context. These two projects tonight have to be taken in the context of what the EDA has been doing in a much larger City Council / July 10,2007 Page 10 of 24 P26